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Women in Aquaculture: Elisabeth Ueland
May 27, 2026
Safeguarding Quality at the Heart of Aquafeed
As Quality Manager for Raw Materials and Suppliers at Skretting Stavanger in Norway, Elisabeth Ueland plays a key role in safeguarding aquafeed quality – starting with the ingredients that go into it.
Working closely with procurement teams, she is responsible for ensuring that ingredient suppliers and the raw materials meet strict quality, food safety, sustainability and customer requirements across Skretting’s three production facilities in Norway.
Her work helps secure a reliable supply of high-quality ingredients, laying the foundation for more responsible aquaculture further along the value chain.
Learn about how Skretting is transforming feed for aquaculture’s future
A Fast-paced, Ever-changing Role
Elisabeth’s journey into aquaculture began during her studies in molecular biology in Bergen. What started as early exposure to the industry quickly developed into a career at the intersection of science, innovation and real-world impact.
No two days are the same. Elisabeth’s work is a mix of planned activities, such as supplier follow-ups and quality assurance, and more reactive tasks driven by constantly shifting raw material markets and customer needs.
“The learning never stops,” she says. “You are always part of something new.”
It’s this pace and variety that make the role both challenging and exciting.
Finding Reward in Teamwork and Progress
One of the most rewarding aspects of her role is working across teams and functions to secure high-quality raw materials to be used in Skretting’s aquafeed.
She points to collaborative innovation as a key source of the pride she takes in her work, particularly the introduction of new raw materials that improve sustainability.
One specific example was working with teams to introduce the implementation of the enzyme phytase, which helps reduce the use of the scarce resource phosphorus.
“Seeing new raw materials enter the market and excel is always a proud moment,” she says.
Navigating Challenges in a Changing Industry
Maintaining consistent quality in a rapidly evolving market is not without its challenges.
With shifting raw material availability and increasing expectations from both customers (the seafood farms that purchase Skretting’s aquafeed) and the end consumer, maintaining high standards of quality requires focus, adaptability and time.
For Elisabeth, meeting these challenges is part of the responsibility and what makes the work meaningful.
A More Inclusive and Sustainable Future
Since starting her career in the world of aquafeed and aquaculture, Elisabeth has seen positive changes in the industry, particularly in terms of opportunities for women.
“We see more women in our factories and leadership teams,” she says. “Building strong female leaders is a clear priority across the organisation.”
Her own experience reflects this shift, having worked with predominantly female leaders throughout her time at Skretting.
Sustainability, she adds, has long been embedded in the company’s approach. From working closely with suppliers and farmers to improving transparency, the focus is on continuously reducing the industry’s footprint.
“All food production has a footprint, and at Skretting work hard to do our part as sustainably as possible,” she says. “We believe that we need to be transparent and share this data with our customers and the public.”
Advice for the Next Generation
Elisabeth’s message to women considering a career in aquaculture is clear:
“It is the best place to be. Don’t hesitate; take the chance if you get it.”
Because for her, the future of aquaculture depends on diversity.
“Aquaculture needs more women working in the industry because we need a diverse industry to keep it moving forward.”
